MARTIN LUTHER: UNLESS I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear arguments (since I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils alone; it being evident that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I AM CONQUERED BY the Holy Scriptures quoted by me, and my conscience is bound in the word of God: I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is unsafe and dangerous to do anything against the conscience. HERE I STAND! I cannot do otherwise. God help me! Amen. (History of the Christian Church, vol. VII, ch. 3, sec. 55) MOREOVER, LUTHER FAMOUSLY STATED: “Feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving; my warrant is the Word of God— naught else is worth believing. Though all my heart should feel condemned for want of some sweet token, There is One greater than my heart Whose Word cannot be broken. Ill trust in Gods unchanging Word till soul and body severs, for, though all things shall pass away, HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!” THESE are powerful, good, and wise CONFESSIONS! Even so, time and time again over the years of Church history, majority voices in visible churches have denied such confessions, persecuted, and even killed multitudes who kept on holding to simple and Biblical faith like Martin Luther’s. TODAY THE QUESTION IS PERSONAL: ‘WHERE DO I STAND?’ In reality, many of us are Double-Minded. We agree with, confess, and seek to apply such confessions while at the same time embracing the demands of modern culture and religion. This is understandable for there is much in the world that is flesh appealing and EASY TO LOVE! It does not have to be wicked stuff! It is often legitimate! As a result, there are many religious and/or cultural traditions upon which we place more value and heart than we do on the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. When Jesus was on earth, the Jewish religious people were doing some good things, which Jesus said that they should not leave undone. Their deep rooted problem was that they were missing the primary things! (Matthew 23:23) WHAT ABOUT ME/YOU? WHEN WE ARE CHALLENGED as to our plans and traditions, at times we protest, “What’s wrong with it? I don’t see anything wrong with it!” Here is the deeper question: ‘HAVE THESE THINGS’ stolen my heart, moved me to misplace my affections, have led me to wrong priorities, and/or have caused me to miss JESUS CHIRST as the Preeminent One??!’ The cares of this life CHOKE!! – [Yes, even legitimate ‘cares’… does not have to be wicked sins!] (Matthew 13:22) MOREOVER, I cannot serve two masters equally! (Matthew 6:24) Thus, I need to ask, “During this December— what, who is preeminent in my life?”
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 11:54:18 +0000
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